Cox’s Johnny Chiang And WMN’s John Esposito Battle For Country Supremacy

February 8, 2019 at 9:13 AM (PT)

Who has more juice in Country music, COX MEDIA GROUP Dir./Operations JOHNNY CHIANG or WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE CHAIRMAN/CEO JOHN ESPOSITO? That’s the question raised by a voting campaign aimed at crowning the “supreme and exalted leader” of COUNTRY RADIO SEMINAR 2019, set to kick off WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH in NASHVILLE.

Humorous wording on the voting site reads: “CRS is taking Country music to new places – beyond radios, beyond smartphones – perhaps beyond MARS. CRS needs more than just a President. It’s time for a Supreme and Exalted Leader to show the way. And it’s a position we need to fill. A Supreme and Exalted Leader is essential to the CRS vision and reach of Country music into the ever-expanding realms of the universe. This is more than a political position – it is a position of glorious honor.”

Each candidate also has a three-item “platform.” CHIANG is running on a promise to launch a Country star into space, among other things. ESPOSITO is lobbying for a “unilateral ban on all call times on days that end in Y.”

Turns out, it’s all part of the ramp-up to a CRS panel on viral marketing titled, “Running For Success: How To Maximize Grassroots Marketing Strategies,” scheduled for THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14th at 2:30p. The voting campaign is being used to demonstrate how stations and companies can garner attention with little or no budget.

To vote for CHIANG, text “VoteChiang” to 39492. To vote for ESPOSITO, text “VoteEspo” to the same number. Voters are also being encouraged to share their votes on social media and tag their candidate of choice. If you haven’t already, you can register to attend CRS here.